Are you getting enough sleep? If not, take this challenge!
I don't know about you, but sometimes I go to bed with every intention of getting a good night's sleep in an effort to get in about 7-8 hours of quality rest and the reality is I can sometimes only squeeze in about 4-5 hours of actual restful sleep. Most of the time I am tossing and turning either because it's too hot, I have to get up to go to the bathroom, my mind starts racing, you name it. I'm sure you can relate. Been there, done that!
In fact, this morning was a perfect example of what can happen. I went to bed around 11:15pm last night and got to sleep fairly quickly I'd say. Maybe by 11:30pm, I was out like a light. But then around 4:30am, I had to get up to go use the restroom and when I got back into bed I couldn't get back to sleep. My abs and shoulders were still sore from my workout with my trainer on Friday, I was thirsty, my mind started thinking about what I was gonna do today, and for the next four hours I just drifted in and out of sleep as all of this swirled around my restless body. UGH!!!
Needless to say, now that it's approaching bedtime tonight, I'm extremely tired and I've been that way for most of the day since coming home from church. When you don't get adequate sleep, it can wreak havoc on your body, including your weight loss efforts. EEEK! The science behind making sure you sleep and sleep well is solid--you need sleep if you want to live the healthy lifestyle you desire. That's why I'm so pleased to tell you about a special event happening now through August 1, 2008.
It's call The Sleep Number® Sleep-In Challenge from the good people at Select Comfort. You may have heard about the Sleep Number® bed on the radio or television and it's arguably the most individualized bed you can possibly own with your own air chamber to make it as soft or as firm as you'd like it on your side of the bed while your bedmate can set their own Sleep Number to the desired level of firmness they would like. Christine and I have tried these out in their store and we are light years apart with our number (she likes her VERY firm and I like mine VERY soft!).
By participating in this special challenge, you will have a chance to be the grand prize winner of a queen-sized Sleep Number® 3000 bed set with the Firmness Control™ system valued at nearly $1,200! WOO HOO! There will also be a first place prize of a pair of Intralux® Comfort Foam Contour Pillows valued at $110. It's a pretty nifty incentive to get you to focus in on your sleep and getting in the habit of getting more of it for the sake of your health. And all you have to do it sign up for the challenge.
Here's how the challenge works: Americans are exhausting themselves to declining health by cutting back on getting adequate sleep. So the challenge is to commit to getting just ONE MORE HOUR OF SLEEP EACH DAY so you can be better rested to take on the day and be healthy in the living world. That's it! We all pay attention to our diet and exercise routine and meticulously plan our days and vacations. So why not do the same with our sleep? You should regularly budget your sleep time like you would any other scheduled appointment or meeting and stick to it! Just so you know, I'm talking to ME as much as I am you right now. I needed this challenge and I am committing myself to getting that extra hour of sleep somewhere somehow. :)
The long-term health impact of adding just one extra hour of sleep per day is phenomenal! It can literally extend your life by reducing such health ailments as obesity, Type 2 diabetes, respiratory disorders and high blood pressure, among other conditions. The evidence is mounting just as it is for livin' la vida low-carb, so we shouldn't ignore it any longer. Get that sleep you desperately need so your body can be as healthy as it can be!
Let me know if you are participating in The Sleep Number® Sleep-In Challenge and share your thoughts about how it's going in the comments section below. GOOD LUCK to everyone who enters for a chance to win that GREAT bed. Sweet dreams, baby! ;)
A "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog reader will win this bike
It's contest time again everyone and this prize is PERFECT for anyone who is living healthy and enjoys the outdoors. You can win an ultra-chic, way-cool, radical-ride known as the Fuji Crosstown 2.0 Bike from our friends at Lipton Teas in promotion of their "Free Your Y" campaign on behalf of their new line of white teas.
Apparently, the new Lipton White Teas come from "young" (that's the "Y" they are referring to) tea buds to give them their amazing youthful flavor and this is the basis for developing "Free Your Y." Whether you are young, feel young, or wanna feel young again, Lipton is celebrating the things people to do recapture the essence of what it means to be youthful, energetic, and full of promise. It's a nice concept to think about, especially for those of us whose lives have been radically changed for the better through livin' la vida low-carb!
Okay, enough about the slogan, you wanna know how you can get your grubby hands on that bike, right? YEPPERS! It's pretty simple. Go to the LiptonFreeYourY YouTube page and click on the "Vote Now" button to see the entries that people submitted to the contest. Here's a brief video talking about voting in this contest with some sample videos of what people entered:
Your vote will determine who wins the $25,000 grand prize as well as two runner-up $5,000 winners. But you only have until Friday, May 30, 2008 to enter and the winner will be announced on Monday, June 2, 2008. GOOD LUCK to all the entries!
But what about the bike, Jimmy?! I hear ya, I hear ya...to win this snazzy bike for yourself (man, I'd love one!), all you need to do is vote for your favorite video and then leave a comment (no anonymous submissions permitted) at this blog post stating who you voted for and why. Since the voting at the "Free Your Y" contest ends on Friday, so will this bike contest at 11:59PM EST--SO DON'T DELAY!
The winner will be chosen at random among all the entries and he or she will have delivered to their home a Fuji Crosstown 2.0 bike, 5 coupons for a free 1.5 Liter Bottle of Lipton White Iced Tea, and a $75 check to offset the expenses for a professional bike assembly. WOO HOO!!! The Pepsi/Lipton Partnership will provide a check for $75.00 to be used for professional assembly of all Lipton Fuji bicycles awarded. Neither Pepsi Co. nor Unilever is liable for any injuries, damages or accidents that may result from the receipt, assembly or use of this bicycle.
So are you ready to "Free Your Y" and vote for favorite video submission in the Lipton contest? Then head on over to YouTube, place your vote, come back here and tell us who you voted for and why, and then wait expectantly for your name to be announced the BIG WINNER! GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!!
I'm announcing the WINNERS of my blogiversary contest!
I just celebrated the third anniversary of my "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog last month with an extensive list of 100 great prizes for you to win. It has become my annual tradition and I'm happy to oblige my wonderful readers who like to win stuff by giving as many of you as possible a good chance. And this year's contest was no different with a record-breaking number of entries from the United States, Canada and around the world.
Before I share who the winners were, I wanted to make a few comments about the people who entered. A total of 37 of the 50 states were represented with California leading the pack followed by Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin, Washington, Tennessee, Michigan, South Carolina, Missouri, Minnesota, Ohio and Florida. I was surprised North Carolina wasn't better represented since I have a lot of readers in that state. And Virginia came out of nowhere with a boatload of entries unlike in years past. Also represented in the entries from overseas was Poland, the UK, Ireland, and Canada.
One interesting thing that came to light in the entries was my question about which plan you are following and for how long. This was totally fascinating to me since the people who entered represent a large cross-section of the thousands of people who read my blog each day. Wanna take a wild guess at which low-carb plan most people follow?
ATKINS ruled the roost with 63 percent of the people on it. But the second place low-carb plan was a shocker--MY OWN PLAN. It garnered 13 percent of the vote putting it ahead of South Beach (6 percent), Protein Power (5 percent), and Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Diet (3 percent). Other plans receiving votes included Somersize, Barry Groves, the TNT Diet, Dr. Gott's No Flour, No Sugar Diet, Weight Watcher's "core" plan, Mary Enig's Coconut Diet, and Dr. Mercola's No Grain Diet. Clearly, low-carb is not dead and there are a variety of plans to choose from based on these responses.
How about the length of time people have been following the low-carb lifestyle? This way of eating can't possibly be attracting new people with all the constant negativity from the media and health "experts" about it, can it? Well, according to these results, the answer is an unequivocal YES! A full 41 percent of the respondents have been on their chosen low-carb plan less than a year. This means people are STILL finding out the truth about low-carb living and are giving it a whirl. Over one-third (34 percent) have been low-carbing for 1-3 years and one-fourth are long-term low-carb veterans by livin' la vida low-carb for more than three years. These numbers don't lie--low-carb is here to stay!
I decided to do another trivia scavenger hunt challenge with this year's blogiversary since it went over so well last year. But I was surprised to see so many people get hung up on the following questions (I've provided a link to where you could find each of the correct answers):
a. Which low-carb doctor did I nominate for Diabetes Educator Of The Year in 2007?
Although everyone got c. and e. right, the others gave some people trouble. The most often missed question was a. In their haste to find the answer, most people neglected to read the most important word in that question--NOMINATED! So to all of you who answered "Barbara Odom," I gotcha! Of course, I benevolently gave each of you a second chance and everyone got it right the second go around. The answer to b. was also a trick question because I just got back from the Western Regional ASBP conference in Phoenix, so the key word in that question was EASTERN. This one tripped up a fair share of people, although not as many as a. did. For d., I got a few answers like chocolate dipped strawberries, but most people got that one right.
These contests are always fun and I'm glad to see so many of you take advantage of participating. Okay, well THANKS so much for reading and we'll be seeing you around...what's that? What do you mean I haven't announced the winners...OH YEAH! That's what you've been waiting for, right? Duh, silly me. I'm happy to let you know EXACTLY who won what prize in the contest at my brand new and improved forum.
Just click on this thread link and all 100 winners are already listed there for you to see. While you are there, I'd love to have you sign up to join in on the conversation about livin' la vida low-carb with your fellow readers. It's a fun and loving place and this new format is incredible! I really think you'll enjoy the experience and hope you give it a chance sometime soon.
THANK YOU again to everyone who entered as well as all the generous prize sponsors who donated these so that you could win some neat stuff! Please allow 4-6 weeks for your prize to be shipped and CONGRATULATIONS to all my winners. Keep reading for your chance to win even more loot in the future. If I haven't said it to you lately, THANKS so much for your support of the work I am doing here at "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb." :) I appreciate you more than I could ever express. SEE YA!
Low-Carb Blogiversary Contest Celebrates 3 Million Pageviews In Three Years
Can you believe I'm coming up on three years of low-carb blogging?
It's already halfway through April and many of my regular readers might be wondering to themselves one question--Is Jimmy gonna have another big blogiversary giveaway contest this year like he has every single year since he started the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog? The answer is a resounding YES and I apologize it comes a little later than usual. Life has been very busy in a good way and I have been working diligently behind-the-scenes to compile some truly amazing prizes for you like I have in the past (see what I gave away in 2007 and 2006 for my first two blogiversary contests).
This third blogiversary coming up on Monday, April 21, 2008 is even more special this year because I not only celebrate three years of low-carb blogging, but also surpassing a major milestone in the history of my blog--3 MILLION PAGEVIEWS! It was just 6 months ago when we passed the 2 million pageview mark and the blog just keeps growing and growing despite all the claims in the media that low-carb is dead (ummm, somebody forgot to tell that to the 200,000 monthly readers who come here!). That's a whole lotta people who are being impacted with the positive message of livin' la vida low-carb and I am grateful for the opportunity to provide you with enough reasons to keep coming back here to read my blog day in and day out. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for all of your support and dedication to my mission here at "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb."
To that end, I once again want to share some truly incredible prizes with you to let you know just how much you are appreciated. I could never repay each of you all that you are worth to me in my life, but a few of you will receive a golden opportunity to win some cool stuff thanks to the generosity of the businesses and individuals who have partnered up with me in this endeavor.
Today I am introducing the 3rd Annual Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Blogiversary Giveaway Contest and you can start entering beginning RIGHT NOW. Like last year, I've got a boatload of prizes to tell you about and it's gonna take a few days to fit them all in. But I will get to them all so you can see what you have the potential of winning during this contest. Look for those prize posts to be coming over the next several days.
I'll be conducting the drawing for the prizes on April 27th and announce the winners on Monday, April 28, 2008. So, what do need to do to win? Last year's scavenger hunt was so popular that I decided to do that again with some new questions. :) Here are the easy instructions about how to enter YOUR name in this drawing (only one entry per household please):
1. Your full name/full mailing address (NO P.O. Boxes please!).
2. Which low-carb plan are you on and how long have you been on it?
3. The blogiversary scavenger hunt (answers easily found on my blog!):
a. Which low-carb doctor did I nominate for Diabetes Educator Of The Year in 2007?
b. In what city did the 2007 Eastern Regional American Society of Bariatric Physicians and Nutrition & Metabolism Society meeting take place?
c. What is the name of the world's fattest man who has lost over 500 pounds on a low-carb diet over the past two years?
d. Name the low-carb recipe I accidentally created after mixing a ChocoPerfection bar and coconut oil together and poured it on top of ice cream.
e. Who wrote and released the bestselling health book Good Calories, Bad Calories under a cloud of controversy in September 2007?
Like I said, all of the answers to these questions can be found at my blog from over the past year and I'll give you a hint--Google is your friend! :P E-mail your answers to me at livinlowcarbman@charter.net. Be sure to label the subject line "BLOGIVERSARY CONTEST" so I can easily identify it as an entry in my contest. NOTE: I MUST RECEIVE YOUR ENTRY NO LATER THAN 11:59PM EST ON APRIL 26, 2008 for you to be eligible to win a prize! Hurry and enter so you can have a chance to win the prizes I'll be sharing with you in the next few days.
For those of you who are concerned about sharing your name and contact information with me, I promise I will NEVER mention your full name, address or e-mail address to anyone or at my blog. It will only be used to mail your prize to you in the event you are chosen as a winner. Remember, please limit your entry to one person per household to give everyone a fair chance to win a prize and there will be plenty of prizes for everyone to have an EXCELLENT chance to win. Winners will be selected by random drawing on Sunday, April 27, 2008 and announced at my blog on Monday, April 28, 2008.
THANK YOU again for three glorious years of low-carb blogging bliss. It is such a pleasure waking up daily knowing that my blog is making a difference in the lives of real people like YOU who have been changed forever by the healthy low-carb lifestyle. If I haven't said it lately, I'm so proud of you guys for making the necessary changes in your life to improve your weight and health. KEEP AT IT!!!
And be sure to tell all your friends and family about the 3rd Annual Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Blogiversary Giveaway Contest. This is gonna be fun because it's celebration time, baby! :D
ENTRY DEADLINE EXTENDED: Because of the Blogger lockdown on my blog over the past week, I have decided to extend the deadline for entering my blogiversary contest to Thursday, May 1, 2008 at 11:59PM. The winners will be chosen at random on Friday, May 2nd and the winners will be announced at the blog soon thereafter. THANKS to everyone who has so enthusiastically entered and shared some amazing comments about how my blog has touched your life. THANK YOU guys! :)
In case you haven't noticed, I LOVE to do contests here at my blog because YOU deserve it for coming back here and blessing me with you presence each day. I have worked hard to make this blog interesting enough for you to make it a daily stop as you travel around the Internet. THANK YOU for your continued support! :)
Today I wanted to share with you about an exciting giveaway contest from my fellow low-carb blogging friend Amy Dungan at the "Healthy Low-Carb Living" blog today. She's celebrating the brand new year by giving her readers a chance to win some neat prizes while having some fun, too!
Here are the awesome low-carb prizes you can win:
1 copy of Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution by Robert C. Atkins
1 copy of The Protein Power Lifeplan by Drs. Michael and Mary Dan Eades
1 copy of Carb Wars: Sugar Is The New Fat by Judy Barnes Baker
1 copy of 500 Low-Carb Recipes by Dana Carpender
3 gift packages of ChocoPerfection bars from Low Carb Specialties (each winner will get an assortment of Dark, Milk and the new Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Raspberry Dark Chocolate)
1 Cal-Carb Clicker
1 4 oz. Bottle of Fiberfit Sweetener and 8 page color recipe guide from Truly Low Carb
1 $50 gift certificate from CarbSmart.com
WOO HOO! That's an impressive list of prizes, Amy, and I KNOW you'll be getting flooded with people wanting to enter your contest. So, how do you enter?
Go to this blog post and try to guess what the pictures are. Right and wrong answers will not impact your ability to win a prize, but this should be fun! Take your best guess at what those photographs are, send your name and mailing address to healthylowcarbliving@gmail.com using the subject line "Great Start Giveaway."
YOU MUST ENTER THIS CONTEST NO LATER THAN JANUARY 24, 2008.
Go show your support for Amy and her giveaway contest and GOOD LUCK in the drawing!
Look out world, the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Bar" has arrived!
First there was the Babe Ruth-inspired "Baby Ruth" candy bar. Then there was Reggie Jackson's "Reggie" bar. Although I'm certainly no athlete with the amazing credentials of a Ruth or a Jackson, I now have my very own candy bar like they do--it's called "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Bar." This is a chocolate lover's delight!
Yes, this new raspberry dark chocolate bar is both sugar-free AND low-carb and is presented to you by the makers of the amazing ChocoPerfection chocolate bars. It's been over a year in the making, but "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Bar" is hitting the low-carb/diabetes market with a big splash debuting this week at CarbSmart!
My wife Christine and I talk about why we decided to come up with this new low-carb chocolate bar in Episode 18 of "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube." With so many other low-carb chocolate choices out there, what's gonna make this one so different? You'll learn EXACTLY why when you tune into this video.
Hear the story behind why "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Bar" was created:
Not to necessarily take anything away from those "other" sugar-free, low-carb chocolate companies, but quite frankly many of them just don't get it. They insist on using cheap, inferior ingredients in their products like the sugar alcohol maltitol which has a well-known disturbing side effect. Why can't we have the opportunity to have a high-quality low-carb chocolate experience without having to go through all that?
That is precisely what attracted me to the ChocoPerfection bars two years ago when I described them as the best-tasting low-carb chocolate bars on the planet. But, like all great things, there are ways to make them even better and that's exactly what we've done with "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Bar."
It is the same chocolate recipe that so many of you have grown to love so much from ChocoPerfection, but now there's an added twist. We've included real raspberry oil as well as coconut oil in it for a special truffle-like center that begins melting as soon as it hits your tongue. And the intense raspberry flavor is what I personally like best about this new chocolate bar. It's an entirely new experience for a low-carb chocolate bar!
We only used the highest quality of ingredients in this bar, including cocoa butter, coconut oil, raspberry oil, oligofructose (chickory root providing 12 g fiber per bar), and erythritol. These are expensive raw materials, but they combine to make one of the most decadent low-carb treats you'll ever sink your teeth into. I'm very proud of "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Bar" and gladly put my name and photo on it as my endorsement of such an excellent product for people who are diabetic or are on the low-carb lifestyle.
As I said, the grand release of my new chocolate bar is now here and exclusively at CarbSmart.com where you can purchase them individually or by the dozen. In a few weeks, they'll be available from the ChocoPerfection web site and other fine online retailers. But I'd like to give YOU an opportunity to win some too! Does that sound like a good deal? GREAT!
Here's what you need to do:
Go to Episode 18 of "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube" and leave some kind of feedback for the video. It can be comments or even questions about the new candy bars if you'd like to share them there. Then send an e-mail to me at livinlowcarbman@charter.net with the subject line "LLVLC Bar Giveaway." Include your YouTube username so I can verify you left a comment, your full name and mailing address, and a paragraph or two explaining why you'd like to be one of the first people to try "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Bar."
The first ten people to do that will receive a special package from me with a FREE SAMPLE of my new chocolate bars. I wish I had enough for EVERYONE to try it, but I only have enough for ten. Watch the video, leave a comment, and send me your address and you might just get a chance to taste these low-carb bars before everyone else. :D Even if you don't win, I hope you will at least order these remarkable new low-carb chocolate bars for yourself, friends, co-workers and family!
Don't forget to watch all of our previous YouTube videos and stay up-to-date with them by subscribing to them. As always, please feel free to share your comments with us about the show anytime at livinlowcarbman@charter.net. We're still having a load of fun making these videos, so keep the ideas for future shows coming!
But when it came down to choosing who the winner would be, the final decision made was to award it to SHARI W. from Tennessee for her amazing mini-quiches. CONGRATULATIONS, Shari! You just won that KODAK Printer all to yourself and I KNOW you will enjoy it immensely.
In case you missed it, here's the winning entry:
The vibrant and varied colors of this low-carb dish made it stick out
And here was Shari's description of her photo:
"These little Mini-Quiches are tasty and make the 'Picture Perfect' holiday appetizer. Simple ingredients and a simple recipe make for the most versatile of dishes. Remember simplicity is an added plus during the hectic time of the holidays. Just make your basic quiche mixture and then add your favorite veggies, meats, and extra spices to taste. A bonus with these quiches is not only are they 'low carb' but you get the added colors of Christmas on your table."
Special THANKS to everyone who entered this contest for sharing your delicious holiday dishes with all of us. I REALLY would have LOVED to given all of you the opportunity to own your own KODAK EASYSHARE 5300 All-in-One Printer, but alas I only had one to give away. But don't worry if you didn't win...there will be other contests in the near future here at the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog (and you never know what may show up in your mailbox--HINT HINT!). :D
THANK YOU so much for your faithfulness to the mission of sharing the wonderfully healthy low-carb lifestyle with the masses! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
Quality photos print in seconds on this nifty KODAK printer
I'm not usually very impressed by many new gizmos and gadgets because quite frankly most of them don't ever live up to the hype. It's like all those television infomercials you see that declare the next great whatever for only $19.99, but then you get it and find out why it only costs that much. UGH UGH UGH!
But let me tell you about a product that not only lives up to the hype, it actually meets and surpasses every expectation I had for it more than I would have ever imagined--it's the KODAK EasyShare 5300 All-In-One Printer. You gotta get yourself one of these if you are as much of a picture-taking fool as I am!
I couldn't believe how easy it was to be up and running with this thing. All I did was plug it in to the socket, do a few setup instructions to coordinate the printer, and it was ready to rock and roll! Since I have an iPhone and an iMac, printing out pictures was as easy as a push of a button.
You'll notice in that picture at the top of this post that I have a photo of my gorgeous wife Christine right there on my iPhone on the right and then the same picture less than a minute later printed out on the left. Is that not too cool or what? And the quality is as good or better than what you'd get a one of those machines at Wal-mart or a drugstore that usually costs 25 cents a pop for each photo. You'll save a lot of time and money the more you use this printer.
Once you have one of these in your home, you'll never have to drive anywhere or pay another dime to a store just to have pictures made. With the KODAK EasyShare 5300 All-In-One Printer, you won't have to do that ever again because everything you'll need to make great pictures will be at your fingertips! It's one of the most user-friendly printers you could ever have for photos, but there's even more to it than that!
You'll also be pleased to learn that this printer allows you to also scan, copy, and print paper documents as well, so it can play double duty with your computer as your super-duper printer as well. Take photos with your digital camera, cut and crop them in your photo program, and then print them out on your new printer. Then type up a letter, print it out, and then mail it to grandma with those pictures you just printed.
This is a handy machine to have around, especially during the holidays. I'm so pleased with this product that I can't wait to put one in the hands of one of my readers as part of my Kodak "Picture Perfect Low-Carb Holiday" Contest. If you haven't entered yet, then you still have time--but you need to hurry since the contest ends this FRIDAY, December 14, 2007.
I previously shared with you two outstanding entries from readers who submitted eligible photos and I have another delightful one to show you today. Here it is:
Submitted by CANDY B. from Hawaii
Lemon meringue pie should be just that - lemon and meringue! Rich crusts and sugared fillings aren't needed. I skipped the crust and used a sugar substitute. It's not only low-carb - you'll enjoy more lemon taste. Make individual pies to control over-indulging, yet looking specially made for each guest!
Get in on the action like Candy did and have a chance to win your very own KODAK EasyShare 5300 All-In-One Printer just in time for Christmas! Cook up your favorite low-carb holiday recipe and then enter the contest before Friday! GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!!
Who wouldn't want to win a KODAK EASYSHARE 5300 All-in-One Printer?
The holidays are coming beginning this Thursday on Thanksgiving, so you know you're gonna be taking a lot of photos with your digital camera. But then you've got to go down to the drugstore or Wal-mart and use that fancy-schmancy little machine to spit out your pictures for you at about 25 cents a pop! Yikes!
Forget about all that and print your own at home with a KODAK EASYSHARE 5300 All-in-One Printer. That's right, you can print your own photos from the comfort of your own home and for pennies compared with driving down to the store and paying a bundle. And I LOVE THIS MACHINE!!!
I'll be posting my own personal review of this printer soon, but I wanted to share an opportunity for YOU to WIN ONE FREE just for reading the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog. Isn't that cool? You know with the popularity of scrapbooking and with the holidays coming up, there will be PLENTY of pictures that will need developing. What a great chance to win a REALLY nice early Christmas present.
The name of this contest is the Kodak "Picture Perfect Low-Carb Holiday" Photo Shoot and here's what you'll need to do to enter the contest:
1. Take a photograph of the most "picture perfect" healthy low-carb recipe or meal you eat during the holidays. Although it is difficult to eat right at this time of year, we all know it is not impossible. So let's see it by snapping a quick picture of that Thanksgiving Day plate of delicious low-carb food, your best low-carb pie, a homemade low-carb side dish, or whatever else you can think of. Be creative and let's see those beautiful photos!
2. Write a description of 50 words or less of what the photograph is along with why it is healthy. Again, be as creative as you can and let's see some personality.
3. Submit your photo, description, name, and mailing address (no PO Boxes please) to livinlowcarbman@charter.net with "PICTURE PERFECT CONTEST" in the subject line no later than Friday, December 14, 2007 at midnight. Winner will be selected and judged on originality, creativity, and personality and subject to a random drawing among the top entries in the event of multiple submissions. ONE PHOTO PER FAMILY PLEASE.
4. All photos submitted will be subject to posting on the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog and family of web sites. Your name and contact information will remain anonymous and only provided to the sponsor if you are selected as the winner. All others will be discarded at the conclusion of the contest.
5. HAVE FUN and be sure to show off how healthy low-carb living can be!
So get those cameras aimed and ready to takes lot of photographs of your delectable dishes as you keep on livin' la vida low-carb throughout the holidays. One of those photos could win you a FREE KODAK EASYSHARE 5300 All-in-One Printer. Good luck everyone and THANK YOU for reading my blog!
Did you enter my special contest celebrating the 100th episode of "The Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore?" Do you wanna see if you were a winner? Click here to find out if YOU were a winner! GOOD LUCK!!!
Everybody wants to know what I eat on my low-carb diet. It has always been mildly amusing to me to get this question because it is a surefire way of knowing when someone hasn't actually read any book about low-carb. If you have read Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution, for example, then you know the kinds of foods you can eat on this incredibly delicious and nutritious dietary approach.
Nevertheless, I understand people like practicality and seeing what worked for other people. That's why I've posted six weeks of my menus so you can see how this low-carber eats. While I think we're all different and have varying tolerances for carbohydrates, the basic foods consumed are just about the same regardless of your low-carb plan.
That's why Episode 11 of "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube" features many of the foods that make up what my daily menu consists of. It shouldn't be surprising to anyone who has either read my blog for any length of time or has been livin' la vida low-carb themselves. I couldn't possibly bring EVERYTHING you can eat on low-carb in front of the camera, but this is a good start.
Watch this YouTube video to find out what goes inside my mouth:
Here are some links for a few of the foods I mentioned on the video:
You are invited to post comments for Episode 11 at YouTube and feel free to share some of the foods you enjoy eating on your low-carb lifestyle. Once again, your comment will then make you eligible to win surprise prize that Christine and I will announce in our next episode. Click here to leave your feedback and quite possibly become a winner!
I'd like to extend a hearty CONGRATULATIONS to one of my very regular readers and supporters Ed Bellinger for being the winner of our previous surprise giveaway contest from Episode 10. Ed won $20 worth of gift certificates from Captain D's. WAY TO GO, ED!!! Don't forget, you can enter to win a prize RIGHT NOW and get featured in our next video by leaving a comment for Episode 11. GOOD LUCK TO YOU!
We're rolling along with our YouTube videos, so watch the ones you've missed:
- Promo video--A half-minute promotion of the new video series - Episode 1--Introduction of Jimmy & Christine Moore - Episode 2--What kind of fruits can you have on a low-carb diet? - Episode 3--What kind of veggies can you have on a low-carb diet? - Episode 4--What does a low-carber do for something sweet? - Episode 5--Why is fat so healthy for you on the low-carb lifestyle? - Episode 6--Which restaurants can you go to on the low-carb lifestyle? - Episode 7--What are the best new low-carb books you need to read? - Episode 8--Why should you be eating a lot more eggs? - Episode 9--If you're gonna do Atkins, do it by the book - Episode 10--What supplements should you take while low-carbing?
We are quickly approaching 150 subscribers and 3,000 channel views at YouTube, so why not sign up yourself and subscribe now?! Christine and I are all about addressing the issues that matter to you the most, so let us hear from you with any show ideas, topics of interest, or questions about the awesome low-carb lifestyle. We're MORE THAN HAPPY to address them in future videos. Send your e-mails to livinlowcarbman@charter.net. It is our pleasure to hopefully entertain, educate, motivate, and inspire you each and every time you watch our videos, so please let us know how we are doing. SEE YA! :)
Regardless of your choice of diet, you need to be taking supplements
One of the most common questions I receive from people inquiring about my low-carb lifestyle is regarding vitamin supplements. They want to know specifically what I take and why I take them. I've briefly blogged about this before, but this was such an interesting topic that I decided to dedicate Episode 10 of "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube" to go over the ones that Christine and I currently take.
Some people erroneously think that they can get all the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients they need by simply eating the right kinds of foods in their diet. Unfortunately, that is next to impossible to do which necessitates the need for supplementation. There are arguments both for and against taking vitamins, but I personally feel better and healthier over these past four years since I added DAILY supplementation to my lifestyle. Nobody will ever convince me otherwise.
See EXACTLY what I am taking in our latest YouTube video:
We'd love to have your feedback about Episode 10 at YouTube, including any supplements that you take that I did not mention. Plus, your comment will make you eligible to win another very special surprise prize that will be announced in our next episode. Click here to leave your comment and GOOD LUCK in the contest.
Special CONGRATULATIONS to one of my LowCarbDiscussion.com forum readers ChrisTina (aka Mrs. A), whose screen name at YouTube is xf89, for being the winner of our previous surprise giveaway contest from Episode 9. She won certificates for 10 FREE Atkins Nutritionals bars just for leaving a comment and for being fortunate enough to be chosen in our drawing. YOU could be the next winner, so be sure to leave a comment at Episode 10 TODAY! :)
Get caught up on our YouTube videos real fast by clicking on the following links:
- Promo video--A half-minute promotion of the new video series - Episode 1--Introduction of Jimmy & Christine Moore - Episode 2--What kind of fruits can you have on a low-carb diet? - Episode 3--What kind of veggies can you have on a low-carb diet? - Episode 4--What does a low-carber do for something sweet? - Episode 5--Why is fat so healthy for you on the low-carb lifestyle? - Episode 6--Which restaurants can you go to on the low-carb lifestyle? - Episode 7--What are the best new low-carb books you need to read? - Episode 8--Why should you be eating a lot more eggs? - Episode 9--If you're gonna do Atkins, do it by the book
We are continuing to grow in the number of subscribers to our YouTube videos, so keep sharing and telling others about them. We value your input about how to make the videos even better, so don't hesitate to let us know your thoughts at livinlowcarbman@charter.net. Your constructive criticism and suggestions for future topics for me and Christine to talk about are greatly appreciated. THANKS as always for your faithful support for the work we are doing to educate, encourage, and inspire others who are livin' la vida low-carb through these videos.
Take a look at what a "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog reader just won!
One of my favorite things to do with my blog is to give people a chance to win something they can use and enjoy. Sometimes it can be something as small as a certificate for a free Atkins bar or a new low-carb book. Other times, though, the prizes you can win just for being a reader are unforgettable--like a FREE GRILL, baby!
In June 2007, I told you about a promotion Vermont Castings was holding called the "Help My Backyard" photo contest where they were looking for people to submit photographs of their pitiful looking grills for a chance to win one of three deluxe grills. I also ran a corresponding contest for some grill accessory kits with winners in June, July, and August.
Each of these entries from my readers were entered into the contest for the grand prize grill giveaways and one of them excitedly reported to me that she was chosen as the 2nd place winner of a 4-burner Vermont Castings deluxe grill! Check out her winning entry and see the winning picture for yourself:
This grill is history, because she just won a new one from Vermont Castings
Here's what she wrote:
Jimmy, thank you so much for posting this contest on your site. I would have never known about it if it hadn't been for you. I – or should I say we – won second place!
The winning entry was the 10 top reasons for a owning a Vermont Castings Grill. I haven't received it yet, but when we do, my husband has plans for trying out all kinds of grilled meat, including making use of the rotisserie for Cornish hens.
If you and Christine ever find yourself in the north Texas or southern Oklahoma area (we live right on Lake Texoma that borders Oklahoma and Texas), you have an open invitation to a BBQ!
Thanks so much for all you do for us in the low-carb world of health, happiness, and wonderful opportunity!!
Christina Robertson
Isn't that EXCITING?!?! CONGRATULATIONS Christina and we may just have to take you up on that BBQ invitation sometime in the near future. :D
Click here to read the official announcement from Vermont Castings and to find out why Christina's submission was chosen. I'm so happy for her and it just goes to show you that you don't ever want to miss your chance to win something just for being a reader of my blog. So be sure to check in every single day if you don't already. :P
In fact, you're gonna have a chance to win some really neat prizes coming up very soon. THANK YOU for reading and be sure to tell all your friends and family to check out my blog early and often, too. You get education and encouragement about your low-carb lifestyle and FREE STUFF to boot! What more could you ask for? (Well, a million bucks would be nice, but I'd have to keep that for myself for um, er, uh...oh I'd figure out something to do with it!) :D
You'll be singing the praises of eggs after watching this YouTube video
Have you been following the new "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube" series that my wife Christine and I have been recording over the past couple of months? We've had more fun doing these videos because we can let it all hang out and just be us for a change. Although I do that somewhat here at my blog and on my podcast show, there's something about being in front of a camera with the love of my life where real magic moments can happen. THANK YOU to everyone who has so faithfully supported this new venture!
In our previous video--Episode 7--we offered a chance to win a FREE AUTOGRAPHED COPY of my book Livin' La Vida Low-Carb: My Journey From Flabby Fat To Sensationally Skinny In One Year and the winner of that drawing was SlimQuest (aka Dan). CONGRATULATIONS Dan and your book is on the way to you now. :D We'll be having MANY MORE opportunities to win prizes in future videos, so KEEP WATCHING!
The educational fun continues in Episode 8 today where we discuss the incredible edible egg. As you know, eggs have been found in studies to reduce total calorie intake compared with a bagel for breakfast! YEPPERS, it's true! Nutrient-dense, chock full of healthy protein, lutein, omega-3s, and more vitamins and minerals than you could shake a stick at. And I'm talking about eating THE WHOLE EGG! GASP! But, but, but...
Before you fret, watch the video for yourself to learn more about eggs:
Yes, I know people fear the cholesterol in eggs and that's just plain silly. Eating cholesterol does NOT raise your cholesterol. But consuming tons and tons of carbs as well as stress leads the body to create unhealthy levels of cholesterol naturally through the liver that enter the bloodstream and cause the problems that lead to higher risks for heart disease and stroke. You won't hear this message very often from the so-called health "experts," but it is the truth.
We'd love to have your thoughts about Episode 8 at YouTube, so share your experiences about eating eggs for your health in the comments section of this video at YouTube. Click here to share your feedback and help educate others about why eggs are the cheapest health food you can eat!
Backlogged on seeing our other YouTube videos? Here are links to those:
- Promo video--A half-minute promotion of the new video series - Episode 1--Introduction of Jimmy & Christine Moore - Episode 2--What kind of fruits can you have on a low-carb diet? - Episode 3--What kind of veggies can you have on a low-carb diet? - Episode 4--What does a low-carber do for something sweet? - Episode 5--Why is fat so healthy for you on the low-carb lifestyle? - Episode 6--Which restaurants can you go to on the low-carb lifestyle? - Episode 7--What are the best new low-carb books you need to read?
Brand new subscribers to our YouTube videos keep signing up all the time, so be sure to be one of those so you'll never miss a new video when we upload it. It has been an incredible pleasure to make these videos which we hope demonstrate how fun and exciting the healthy low-carb lifestyle can be for people to follow.
THANK YOU so much for watching our videos and please send us your feedback, suggestions for future show ideas, comments, and questions at livinlowcarbman@charter.net. We will be on vacation in the Smoky Mountains with my mother and stepfather next week in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, so we won't be recording a video next week. But we'll get right back at it when we return, so don't fret. We appreciate your very kind comments and excitedly move forward with this new format for sharing the uplifting and positive message of livin' la vida low-carb!
The next installment of our growing by leaps and bounds YouTube video series is now online and today you'll have a chance to WIN a really neat FREE prize just for watching and commenting on the video. WOO HOO! If you haven't heard about the videos my wife Christine and I are making on YouTube yet, it's a new series we have called "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube." This is an extension of the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" family to help spread the positive message of the low-carb lifestyle even further.
In Episode 6 today, I thought it would be important to discuss how to eat out when you are on the low-carb lifestyle. A lot of low-carbers erroneously think that their life has to change dramatically to the point that they can't go to a restaurant anymore when they start eating this way. Oh contraire, my dear, and today's video will share how you can stay committed to livin' la vida low-carb AND go out to eat, too! WOO HOO!
See where Christine and I recommend you go and NOT go while low-carbing:
Some of the better restaurants to visit when you are livin' la vida low-carb include Denny's, Ruby Tuesday, Hardee's, Golden Corral, Captain D's, Cracker Barrel, and The Cheesecake Factory (although pretty much ANY restaurant you can make your own low-carb meal). But there are a few places you probably should avoid: Olive Garden, IHOP (puts pancake batter in their EGGS!), Applebee's (although you CAN find ONE low-carbish meal if you play around with it), KFC, and McDonald's, just to name a few.
Leave a comment for Episode 6 and you could WIN $20 in FREE GIFT CERTIFICATES for Captain D's restaurants which recently added a healthy choices menu for you to pick and choose the grilled meats and veggies that suit your healthy low-carb lifestyle! YEAH for that! Watch the video, give feedback, and tune in to the next video to see if you were a winner!
See all of our other YouTube videos and comment on them, too:
- Promo video--A half-minute promotion of the new video series - Episode 1--Introduction of Jimmy & Christine Moore - Episode 2--What kind of fruits can you have on a low-carb diet? - Episode 3--What kind of veggies can you have on a low-carb diet? - Episode 4--What does a low-carber do for something sweet? - Episode 5--Why is fat so healthy for you on the low-carb lifestyle?
Special thanks to everyone who has subscribed to our YouTube videos and we just keep growing and growing in viewers each time we record a new video. We've been trying to do about one a week (which is a minor miracle if you knew the crazy busy schedule I am on right now!), so we appreciate your positive comments. Keep the feedback coming and let us know if there is a specific topic you'd like for us to tackle. E-mail us anytime at livinlowcarbman@charter.net.
Chick-Fil-A and Coke want to give YOU some free food!
Whenever I see a deal that will benefit people who are livin' la vida low-carb, then I like to pass it along. And when we're talking about Chick-Fil-A chicken (the BEST in the world, IMHO, and it's REAL chicken--not that "fake" stuff) and a cold, refreshing Diet Coke, you run as fast as you can to get in on this while it lasts.
Mmm mmm, this is about as easy a freebie you'll ever see and I encourage you to take advantage of it before 11:59pm on September 29, 2007. But don't wait until the last minute because only one million of these coupons will be distributed and then they are gone!
Here's what you need to do to get your chicken and Diet Coke coupon:
1. Go to FreeChickenAndCoke.com. 2. Click on the Click Here To Enter button. 3. Fill out the address you want your coupon shipped to. 4. Wait 6-8 weeks for your coupon to arrive.
Easy peasy and it's FREE FOOD! If you ask for the chicken to be chargrilled without the bun, then they'll give you plenty of greens to wrap it in. And the Diet Coke can be replaced with unsweetened tea if you'd like that better.
This is a rare freebie from a major restaurant chain that's actually low-carb friendly, so take advantage of it while you can. ENJOY!!!
August Vermont Castings BBQ Accessories Winner Announced
There's something rather "fishy" about this grill
It's been an awesome summer, but all good things must come to an end. The kids are headed back to school, the scorching hot weather is expected to cool down soon (THANK GOD!), and life gets back into regular routine mode again.
But before we do, I need to announce my third and final winner in the Vermont Castings "Help My Backyard!" contest which I have enjoyed hosting this summer. Contestants submitted their photos to Vermont Castings with their pitiful looking grill and they were vying for one of three brand new deluxe grills. It's been a GREAT opportunity by everyone involved and GOOD LUCK to those of you who entered.
In addition to the chance to win a free grill, readers of the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog could also win an exclusive grilling kit from Vermont Castings which I have previously highlighted. We've already had two winners from June and July: Christina R. from Texas and Mary S. from North Carolina respectively.
Now we have our third and final winner for August:
GAYLE O. from OREGON!!!
Congratulations, Gayle! That adorable photo at the top of this blog post with the fish in her current grill was her entry in the Vermont Castings contest. Here's the caption she wrote for her submission:
Here in the Pacific Northwest, we have great opportunities to catch and grill big fish! Unfortunately, this little barrel grill just isn't up to the challenge. A Vermont Castings grill would transform my backyard and allow me to showcase my grilling and fishing skills. Salmon Lover
TOO CUTE! You guys have been very creative and I wish you could all win one of those grills. THANKS for participating in my contest with Vermont Castings this summer and stay tuned for even more chances to win some really neat prizes just for being a faithful reader of the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog.
What this gazebo needs is a new grill from Vermont Castings
Summertime is almost over now that it's August, but you still have a chance to win one of three very attractive Vermont Castings BBQ grills as part of their "Help My Backyard!" promotion. If you haven't entered yet, you STILL have time. But HURRY! :)
- 4-piece grilling tools with case - Grill knife - Skewer set - Vermont Castings apron - Grill mitt - Grill wipes - Vermont Castings recipe book
ENJOY your grilling accessories and good luck in the Vermont Castings grill giveaway contest. That's a good-looking gazebo you have and nothing would look better than an attractive brand new grill. :D
Here's what Mary wrote about her need for a new grill:
"We built this beautiful gazebo with the hopes of having great BBQ dinners al fresco. Unfortunately, the grill has not cooperated. First, the auto igniter stopped, then two of the three burners decided to quit working. And as a capstone event, the regulator became faulty causing the tank to look like a huge torch. We spent all of our money on the gazebo and really need a grill!"
HA, what a story! Go get 'em, girl! :)
There's still ONE MORE BBQ accessories prize package to give away in August. Here's how you can be eligible to win:
1. Enter the "Help My Backyard" contest by clicking here. 2. E-mail me your name, address (no P.O. Boxes please!), and telephone number so we can ship your prize to you if you are chosen as the winner. 3. Tell me which photo or video is yours, including what you submitted as your "Backyard Story." Attach it to your e-mail if you can.
Special THANKS to Vermont Castings for donating these prize packages for the readers of the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog. GOOD LUCK to everyone who has entered the contest. Happy grilling!
Last week, I shared with you about my first experience eating lamb thanks to the good folks over at The American Lamb Board. They were kind enough to share their really nifty Summer Lamb Grill Kit which I enjoyed thoroughly!
As you know, they also gave me two of these kits to give away to a couple of lucky readers and I was swamped with so many responses to my trivia questions from my very smart readers that I hated there would only be two winners.
For the record, here are the correct answers:
What is the marketing slogan for the American Lamb Board? American Lamb. From American Land.
Who is the American Lamb spokesperson? Chef Tim Love
What government Cabinet office created the American Lamb Board? U.S. Secretary of Agriculture
What are the five most popular cuts of lamb? Leg, Loin, Shanks, Shoulder, and Rack
Just about everyone who entered got these right and THANK YOU to the masses of you who participated in this contest. All the entries with correct answers were placed in a pool to draw from and my wife Christine did the honors.
And the winners are...
DENNITA H. from Brady, TX and DEBORAH R. from Braintree, MA
WOO HOO! CONGRATULATIONS Dennita and Deborah. You two ladies will each be receiving an overnight package on Wednesday morning from the American Lamb Board with the following:
- 6-8 lb. prime cut boneless leg of American lamb - Recipe cards with exclusive lamb recipes - Fresh pre-packaged herbs needed for the recipes above - American Lamb Board meat thermometer - Set of (4) 12" stainless-steel skewers from Outset Inc.
See what you can look forward to grilling up! Can't you just taste it?! :D
Special THANKS to the American Lamb Board for their generous donations and on behalf of my readers I express my deepest gratitude to them for educating us about healthy American-made lamb.
Have you ever tasted fresh American-made lamb before?
I have to admit, before today I had never in my entire life tasted lamb before. I don't know why other than the fact it's just not as prevalent in our culture as chicken, pork, beef, and fish. But I gotta tell ya, I'm HOOKED now! :)
Thanks to an organization called The American Lamb Board, I was able to see, prepare, cook and eat lamb when I otherwise would have never even given it a second look. The fine folks there sent me this very nice lamb goodie kit shipped overnight with cold packs:
The American Lamb Board Summer Lamb Grill Kit is quite a catch!
This incredible kit includes:
- 6-8 lb. prime cut boneless leg of American lamb - Recipe cards with exclusive lamb recipes - Fresh pre-packaged herbs needed for the recipes above - American Lamb Board meat thermometer - Set of (4) 12" stainless-steel skewers from Outset Inc.
Why am I telling you about this kit? Well, TWO of my LUCKY READERS will win this EXACT SAME KIT that I received today in the mail one week from today on July 18, 2007. That's right, you have the chance to win that attractive kit just because you are a reader of the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog.
Aren't you just so special? ;)
With the summer grilling season underway, the American Lamb Board wants to encourage low-carbers like you to make a change from the ordinary summer fare to give lamb a try. But not just any old lamb. This lamb is American-made and offers a high meat-to-bone ratio.
If you have never eaten lamb, it has a rich taste that offers great flexibility to pair up with your favorite seasonings and spices. American Lamb is also more buttery, tender, and flavorful than imported lamb based on a combination of factors including farming and feeding practices.
In a survey of 500 consumers conducted in January 2007 by the American Lamb Board, one out of three Americans have never cooked lamb at home. Count me as one of those before today. Additionally, those poll respondents said they would enjoy more lamb at home if they had easy-to-follow preparation ideas and knew what to look for at the grocery store.
That's where the American Lamb Board web site comes into play. It is very user-friendly and features award-winning recipes from renowned chefs, tips for preparing various cuts, nutrition facts, suggestions for wine pairings and more.
Before I tell you how you can win the American Lamb Board Summer Lamb Grill Kit giveaway, let me show you how my grilling experience with lamb went today.
Don't those lamb steaks and kabobs look absolutely scrumptious?
From the time I placed these cuts of lamb on the barbie, I knew this was gonna be different than chicken or beef. It started searing early in the cooking process and looked fantastic in just a matter of minutes. The aroma was heavenly as these were cooking on the grill.
I could not have been more pleased with how the lamb turned out
The hardest part of preparing the lamb was cutting it up for the grill. But the end result made it all worth it! They looked absolutely gorgeous and I couldn't wait to take my first bite. Here goes nothing:
OH MY GOODNESS! Where has this meat been my entire life? Divine, I say, absolutely positively heavenly. Who knew lamb tasted THIS good? This look says it all:
Can you tell I was one happy camper eating lamb that had the tender texture of chicken with the meaty taste of beef. I'm a BIG FAN of this meat now--the OTHER red meat! :D
How about you? Wanna win that American Lamb Board Summer Lamb Grill Kit, too? I have two of them to bestow upon a couple of readers and here's what you need to do:
1. Go to AmericanLambBoard.org 2. Answer the following trivia questions: A) What is the marketing slogan for the American Lamb Board? B) Who is the American Lamb spokesperson? C) What government Cabinet office created the American Lamb Board? D) What are the five most popular cuts of lamb? 3. Submit your answers to me at livinlowcarbman@charter.net with the subject line "American Lamb Board Giveaway" by Monday, July 16, 2007 at 12:00pm. Winners will be announced later that day and prizes mailed on July 17th to arrive at your home on the morning of July 18th. 4. Please include your first and last name, mailing address (no P.O. Boxes please), and telephone number for shipping verification if you are one of the winners. 5. Open to continental U.S. residents only.
. That's right, you can print your own photos from the comfort of your own home and for pennies compared with driving down to the store and paying a bundle. And I LOVE THIS MACHINE!!!
